Meiji Japanese Ivory Okimono, Elder on Bench with Fan and Bird Cage

East Asia, Japan, Meiji period. An elephant ivory okimono of an elderly man seated at one end of a plain bench. His bald head is tipped forward and his open mouth breaks into a toothy grin. His right hand holds a round uchiwa fan against his knee. His left arm is bent and raised, with the fingers curled as if about to grab something. Beside him stands an openwork lattice bird cage on a footed stand, partly covered by a draped cloth. A small bag and a stick rest behind him. His layered robe is incised with stained geometric and floral roundels, and he wears sandals on his feet. The bench top is engraved with wood grain and supported on slender turned stretchers. The signature Masayuki is incised into an inlaid red lacquer cartouche on the underside. Okimono, meaning "placed things," were decorative carvings made to sit in the tokonoma alcove or on a display shelf. In the Meiji period, carvers who had once made netsuke and sword fittings turned increasingly to larger okimono for export, selling to Western buyers at international exhibitions and through Yokohama and Tokyo dealers. Scenes of ordinary townspeople, such as craftsmen, street vendors, and old men with their pastimes, were a favored subject. Signing on an inlaid red lacquer tablet set into the base is a convention of Tokyo-school export okimono. Keeping songbirds and quail was a popular urban pastime in Edo and Meiji Japan. Owners often draped a cloth over the cage to calm the bird, which is the detail the carver has captured here. This item is made of or contains elephant ivory and qualifies for exemption under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) as an antique. Due to strict federal and state regulations governing the sale and transport of ivory, this item may not be shipped internationally or to residents of the following U.S. jurisdictions: CA, CT, DC, HI, IL, MA, MD, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, VT, and WA. Buyers are solely responsible for ensuring that their purchase complies with all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding the acquisition, possession, resale, or transfer of ivory. While we guarantee that this item meets the criteria for ESA exemption under federal law, we strongly recommend that prospective buyers consult with local authorities to verify legal eligibility in their jurisdiction. This lot cannot be shipped to CA, CT, DC, HI, IL, MA, MD, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, VT, and WA or outside the United States. Item # 205562

Estimate:£454.04

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